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Louise

♀ Girl

Pronounced loo-EEZ /luˈiːz/High

Meaning: French feminine form of Louis, from the Old High German Hludwig composed of hlud (famous, renowned) + wig (warrior, battle), meaning 'famous warrior'High

In 30 seconds: Louise is a quintessentially French classic meaning 'famous warrior.' From royalty to road-trip icons (Thelma and Louise), it carries grace, strength, and enduring elegance in two syllables.
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Origin HighFrench, Germanic
MeaningFrench feminine form of Louis, from the Old High German Hludwig composed of hlud (famous, renowned) + wig (warrior, battle), meaning 'famous warrior'
U.S. rank (2025)#516 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births579 girls (0.03% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1921
Total births (all-time)≈ 336,461

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 192118802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Louise is the French feminine form of Louis, which traces to the Old Frankish Hludwig — composed of hlud (famous, loud) and wig (warrior). The name entered English through French royal influence and was firmly embedded in aristocratic European naming traditions. It has been a royal name in France, Belgium, and Britain for centuries.

Louise was a top-tier girls' name in the 19th and early 20th centuries in both England and the United States. It declined mid-century and is now in a confident revival, particularly in the United Kingdom and Australia, where it pairs beautifully as a middle name. Thelma and Louise (1991) gave the name a bold, adventurous pop-culture dimension.

Did you know? Louise is a royal name par excellence: it was borne by ten queens of France, a princess of Belgium who became Queen of Sweden, and Princess Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria, who was also a talented sculptor.
Overall data confidence 95%
Behind the Name — Louise — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

LouisaLuisaEloiseLulu

Nicknames

LouLuluWeezy

Famous Bearers

  • ★Louise of Savoy (1476–1531)
    French noblewoman who served as regent of France and was the mother of King Francis I.
  • ★Louise Brooks (1906–1985)
    American actress and iconic silent-film star of the 1920s.

If you like Louise…

Eloise— shares the French sophistication and vintage revival arc
Louisa— the Latin cognate with the same Germanic root and similar sound
Josephine— French-influenced classic name in the same stately, vintage category
Cecelia— elegant three-syllable classic in the same Francophile revival

Frequently Asked

What does the name Louise mean?

Louise is the French feminine form of Louis, from Old High German Hludwig meaning 'famous warrior' — combining hlud (famous) and wig (warrior).

How do you pronounce Louise?

It is said loo-EEZ — two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Louise a boy or girl name?

Louise is used exclusively as a girls' name; Louis is the masculine form.

How popular is Louise?

Louise is experiencing a revival in the UK and Australia and remains a popular middle name in the U.S.